After quitting game, refocused Gibson returns to Bluefish

Published 12:37 am, Saturday, August 30, 2014

BRIDGEPORT -- Left-hander Glenn Gibson had not pitched professionally in more than three years. He didn't expect to have the opportunity to pitch this season either.

Tryouts with the Long Island Ducks, the Bridgeport Bluefish and the Rockland Boulders in the independent Can-Am League did not yield a job offer.

Each team informed Gibson, who hit 91 on the radar gun throwing for the Boulders, that they would call him should a roster spot become available.

Late last week, a call finally came. The retirement of Julio Rodriguez and the release of Emiliano Fruto opened a roster spot with the Bluefish.

"After not playing for two (seasons), teams are hesitant to sign you because they don't know what to expect," Gibson said. "It seemed at that point that no one really wanted me. And I said to myself, `What else can I really do?' So that's why it's nice that I get a chance from the Bridgeport Bluefish. It's an incredible opportunity."

Gibson, 26, had been nearly perfect in his first two appearances with the Bluefish, allowing one hit, striking out four and walking one in three innings entering Friday's game against the Sugar Land Skeeters at Harbor Yard.

Bluefish manager Willie Upshaw first called on Gibson on Aug. 23 against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Gibson exceeded his own expectations in his debut by throwing 41 pitches in two scoreless innings.

"It felt as good as it's felt in as long as I can remember, honestly, over the past five years," Gibson said. "I was throwing fastball, curve-ball, change-up and I had command of all three pitches. It's never easy, but it always makes the game that much simpler when I know I have my good stuff that night."

Gibson followed by striking out one in one perfect inning and throwing nine pitches (seven strikes) at Lancaster Tuesday.

"I think he'll get stronger as the season goes on," Upshaw said. "And hopefully as he gets stronger, he can continue to throw strikes and compete out there to get guys out."

Gibson, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the fourth round in 2006, needed to walk away from the game in 2011. He had a 13.06 ERA in nine appearances at Wilmington. But it was more than that.

Mentally, it was a struggle. Physically, he was bothered by significant pain in his jaw.

"I just didn't feel like myself," Gibson said. "It wasn't as natural. I was in my own head a lot. I started to develop a big problem with my jaw, actually. And I had just inflamed tendons in my jaw and I just didn't feel comfortable ever. And I've wanted to get my life straightened out. I wanted to get my health in order and I just lost the feel for pitching."

As bad as things once seemed, Gibson missed the game about a year later. A comeback bid was set in motion.

"I was doing construction on tennis courts and I decided that maybe the grass isn't always greener," said Gibson, who hails from Center Moriches, N.Y., on Long Island. "When I was playing, I always thought it was this grind, but it's baseball. It's the most wonderful thing in the world, honestly. And I sort of forgot about it. I took it for granted and I think it was one of the 100-degree days on Long Island when I was putting cement on the ground for the tennis courts."

Gibson got back into baseball shape by pitching for a team in the Stan Musial League on Long Island. It is a team that folded, but the experience helped Gibson get back in the game.

And now that he is back, he said he is all-in.

"As long as people will throw me out there, I'll keep playing," Gibson said. "I love the game. There's nothing else I'd rather do and I think it took the experience of actually doing other things to realize that this is where I want to be."